The American

8.

8.

"Tell me something about your sister," Newman began abruptly.

Bellegarde turned and gave him a quick look. "Now that I think of it, you have never yet asked me a question about her." "I know that very well." "If it is because you don't trust me, you are very right," said Bellegarde. "I can't talk of her rationally. I admire her too much." "Talk of her as you can," rejoined Newman. "Let yourself go." "Well, we are very good friends; we are such a brother and sister as have not been seen since Orestes and Electra. You have seen her; you know what she is: tall, thin, light, imposing, and gentle, half a grande dame and half an angel; a mixture of pride and humility, of the eagle and the dove. She looks like a statue which had failed as stone, resigned itself to its grave defects, and com